MoD inks contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc for leasing of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems for Indian Navy for 30 months

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) to lease two MQ‑9B Sea Guardian high‑altitude long‑endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to the Indian Navy for 30 months. The deal, valued at about Rs 1,943 crore, was executed by Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition) Shri A. Anbarasu at Kartavya Bhawan‑2, New Delhi on 17 August 2026. The MQ‑9B platforms, equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, are intended to boost the Navy’s maritime domain awareness and provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage across the Indian Ocean Region.